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mating nuc

This winter I made 30 5 frame Nuc boxes, I plan to use some of them for Queen rearing. Ive noticed a lot of mini mating Nucs, other than the obvious size difference what if any are the benefits of having a mini mating nuc. Will my Nuc's be fine for mating nuc

Re: mating nuc

Mini's use much less bees to get started. As little as a cup of bees.

But you have to get all those odd sized frames drawn out and filled. Odd sized frames can't be used in standard equipment.

Your Nucs will work great. You also have the ability to use fewer then 5 frames if you choose. I use 5 frame Nucs with a frame feeder, so 4 frames, plus medium boxes made into mating nucs. 3 compartments for 3 frames each. This allows you to transfer frames of brood and bees to other hives. You can't do that with mini frames.

Re: mating nuc

But you have to get all those odd sized frames drawn out and filled. Odd sized frames can't be used in standard equipment.

Your Nucs will work great. You also have the ability to use fewer then 5 frames if you choose. I use 5 frame Nucs with a frame feeder, so 4 frames, plus medium boxes made into mating nucs. 3 compartments for 3 frames each. This allows you to transfer frames of brood and bees to other hives. You can't do that with mini frames.

Wisnewbee
Honey Luv Farm

Or they can.

These are in normal hive given to be built ( 2 attached together). They are half lang. Later will go into mating nucs ( 5 half frames).. I am so green in this, still have to learn a lot and can't give some great answers..half frames.JPG

Re: mating nuc

Last year after transferring a colony from a skep into a lang hive, I cut out all the wax comb from it and install into lang frames ( fasten with a wire for a few days - untill bees fasten the comb to a frames). The reason that in a skep were left around 15-18kg of food ( pollen and honey) and I gave them back their food.. It was amazing for me how they attached to a frames and at what speed. But for me too sticky.. When is empty comb I believe it is far more easier.. For me in my climate is easier to give the frames with foundation when started spring or later in a some flow. They sometimes build it in a day.. Also I left some in a brood boxes, to get the brood on it already. And when time is right to take it.. Will see how I would manage all these ( took too many for to do - starting to panic to don't spin around chasing my tail..)

Re: mating nuc

But you have to get all those odd sized frames drawn out and filled. Odd sized frames can't be used in standard equipment.

I had the same concern, thinking how to place mini nuc's frames to be drawn in different settings...larger hive, normal frame adaptors or what have you...Why?

Because really, even a very small amount of bees, will have enough comb drawn for the queen to lay into once she is mated. If anything, you can put a small piece of foundation just to give them direction and a place to start.

Actually, a cup of young bees, provided with a virgin, will draw a nice patch of comb in about 3 days. At least mine did and do.
That is the duration I keep them closed, in the dark, a cool temp of 65-70 F, with food of course. Then, with the drawn comb just about ready, the virgin queen will eventually fly out to mate. Once she is mated and you see capped brood, you can take her majesty out to "better" accommodations and repeat the process.

If you are concerned with the capped brood, you can easily cut it out and mount it in an empty, medium, shallow or even a deep frame and give it to another hive. The bees will tend to it and build around it like it is theirs. Especially in a flow.

Re: mating nuc

I have some half size frames that fit into a regular medium super with a simple wooden bar in the middle to act as a frame rest. I just keep this box in the brood nest of a hive until I need it. Anything that is odd sized like this is a pain in the butt at times though. But being able to make up 5 mating nucs with one box of resources is handy. Be aware though that the smaller the nuc is the more management it requires.